Robert Nozick’s
Entitlement Theory of Justice

Introduction

American Philosopher (19382002).
‘Anarchy, State and Utopia’ – 1974.
Libertarian perspective.
Sought to advance an alternative to Rawls theory of Justice.
Based on inviolability of private property rights.
‘One Value’ political philosopher Jonathan Wolff.
Defends – Minimal State.

Types of theories of Justice

EndState theoriesnot concerned with what people do, but only with the end result Utilitarian theories.
Historical theories – what people have done is relevant to the distribution of resources.
Patterned to each according to………..(desert, need, labor etc.)
Unpatterned

Modes of Acquisition

Their selves, their body, brain
The natural world – water, land etc.
Applying themselves to the natural world agricultural or industrial products.
An individual’s entitlement to these products may not be questioned.

Principles of Entitlement

People’s entitlement to self ownership of their body or mind needs no further justification.
Principles of justice for their entitlement of things of natural world :
Initial acquisition (Just acquisition)
Voluntary transfer (Just transfer)
Rectification – if anything wrong in acquisition.
Not allowed monopoly over certain necessary goods.

Criticism

Champion of competitive market of society.
Absolves the rich of all social responsibility.
Taxes for welfare of people is not like forced labor.
Rectification in so easy.

Dr. Vikas Khokhar
Kushal Classes